Variable-speed gear.



No. 724,312. PATENTED MAR. 31, 1903. P. MILLER.

VARIABLE SPEED GEAE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 2s, 190D. l No MODEL. a sHEETs-sHEET 1, l

No. 724,312. PATENTED MAR. 31, '1903.1

E. MILLER. VARIABLE SPEED GEAR.

APPLIGATION FILED JULY 2s, 1902.

No MODEL. s SHEETS-SHEET z.

A iweutoz Warum@ TM: unimi vernis e0.. moougo.. WASMINCWON, uc.

PATENTED MAR. 31, 1903; v

No. 724,312. l

E. MILLER.. l VARIABLE SPEED GEAE.

APPLICATION FILB) JULY 23. 1902.

faktor/naw Nirnn STATES vArnim. FFICE."

VARIABLE-SPEED GEAR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 724,312, dated March 31, 1903. Application filed Jnly.23,1902`. Serial No. 116,711. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANCIS MILLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bellevue, in the county of Campbell and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Variable-Speed Gear; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in variablespeed gearing, and has among its objects to provide such a mechanism applicable fo various uses wherein such a device of this character is desirable.

My said invention possesses certain features of novelty that will hereinafter more fully appear, and in order that my said invention may be more readily understood reference will be had to the accompanying drawings, wherein-` Figure 1 is a central vertical sectional view of the mechanism. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same, part-s being omitted. Fig. 3 is an end view, partly in section, looking from the left in Fig. 1, parts being omitted. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 4 4, Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a view in section, showing a modified form of mechanism. Fig. 6 is a modification of the form shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a face view of one of the crown;gears employed in the variable-gear mechanism, parts being omitted for clearness. Fig. 8 is an underneath view of one of the removable gear-sections adapted to be inserted into the face of the crown-gear, as shown in Fig. 7; and Fig. 9 is a transverse sectional view of the same.

In the several views the same numerals are employed to designate the same parts throughout the several views.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, 1 represents the main driving-shaft, upon which is provided an enlarged portion or sleeve 2 and a second sleeve or enlarged portion 3. This shaft 1 passes` through the bearing or shaft-box 4, a bushing 5 being preferably tted into this bearing or shaft-box 4, through which passes the shaft l. Into the enlarged portion 2 is dovetailed a feather 6, adapted to rest in a recess in the bevel gear-wheel 7, slidingly mounted upon the said portion 2.

This bevel-gear 7 is provided at one end with a circumferen tialgroove 8, into which fits theY yoke 9, carried by the controlling-rod 10, pivoted at 11 to the swinging support 12. In Vthe periphery of the enlarged portion 3 upon the shaft 1 at the opposite side of the shaft-box 4 is also provided a feather 13, fitted in a recess in the bore of a bevel gear or pinion 14,

slidingly mounted upon the enlarged vportion 3 of said driving-shaft 1. This bevel gear or pinion 14 is also provided with the circumferential groove 15, into which fits the yoke 16,

-'carried upon one end ofthe controlling or operating rod 17. A

18 is a cross-head in which is pivotally supported the rod 17, adapted to slide upon the guide 19, carried in the supporting-frame 20, secured to some stationary part of the machine.

21 is the driven shaft or the shaftto which motion is to be imparted from the drivingshaft l. This shaft 21 is preferably disposed at right angles to the driving-shaft l and has one end seated in the bearing 22,formed in one side of the shaft-box 4, a removable bushing 23 being preferably interposed between said shaft and said shaft-box. Slidingly mounted upon this shaft 21 is a bevel gear-wheel 24, provided with an elongated sleeve 25, fitting loosely upon the shaft 2l, carrying at its extremity a collar 26, held securely in place by the set-screw 27. Interposed between this shaft 21 and bevel gear-wheel 24 is a dovetailed feather 2S, throughwhich rotary motion may be imparted from the bevel gear-wheel 24 to said shaft 21. Rotatably mounted upon this sleeve 25 is a second sleeve 29, provided at one end adjacent the bevel gear-wheel 24 with a ball-seat 30, corresponding with a ballseat 31, formed in the hub of the bevel gearwheel 24, between which ball-seats are interposed ball-bearings 32, adapted to receive the thrust between said bevel gear-wheel and sleeve.

33 34 is a divided casing fitted in sections loosely over the sleeve 29, said sections being secured together by the bolts 35. These sections 33 34 are provided with radially-disposed longitudinal slots 36, in which rest the rollers 37, rotatably mounted upon the pins 38, screwed into the periphery of thesleeve 29.

39 40 are enlarged portions carried upon IOO the divided sections 33 34, having transversely-disposed slots 41, into which are slidingly fitted the slotted ends 42 of the yoke carried by the controlling-rod 43. These yoke ends 42 are each provided with a camslot 44, in which ride the rollers 37 37, carried upon the periphery of the sleeve 29. Secured upon the outer face of these enlarged portions 39 40 of the casing 33 34 are plates 45, secured in place by means of bolts 46 or otherwise, as may be found desirable, the functionfofthese platesbeing to retain the rollers 37 and the ends of the yoke in position against displacement.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 7 to 0, inclusive, it will be seep that the face of the bevel gear-wheel 24 is provided with a plurality of concentric ribs 47. These ribs 47 are preferably turned down accurately to center, and over these ribs are slipped the rings 48, having their upper faces cut with teeth forming concentric rings of gears of different diameters upon the face of the bevel gear-wheel 24, the number of which may be varied to meet the conditions of varying requirements three different sets of gears being shown in the drawings for the sake of clearness. To secure these rings against displacement, radially-disposed pins 49 are preferably passed through perforations in the ribs 47, said pins being locked in place by setscrews or plugs 50, screwed firmly into place in the tapped projections 51, located at intervals around the periphery of the bevel gearwheel 24.

Instead of employing separate bevel-pinions 7 and 14, as shown in Fig. 1, both of said pinions maybe combined into one, such a construction being shown in Figs. 5 and 6. ln Fig. 5 the gear-pinion 52is slidingly mounted upon the driving-shaft l in a similar manner to the pinions 7 14, Fig. 1; but instead of having one gear-face a pair of oppositely-disposed gear-faces 53 54 are provided. This gear 52 is adapted to be thrown into such a position relatively to the bevel gear-wheel 24 that the gear 53 will engage one set of teeth upon the wheel 24, at one side thereof, to impart motion thereto in one direction and shifted upon the opposite side of said bevel gear-wheel to allow the oppositely-disposed teeth 54 to engage the teeth upon the opposite side of said bevel gear-wheel.

In Fig. 6 is shown a modied form of double pinion, both sets of gear-teeth in this form of gear being cut from the circumferential rib 54, the gear-teeth 55 upon one side of said rib 54 being so set as to engage the teeth upon one side ot' said bevel gear-wheel 24, and the gear-teeth 56, oppositely disposed upon the other side of said rib 54, being adapted to engage the teeth when the gearpinion is shifted to the opposite side of the bevel gear-wheel 24.

The operation ot' the mechanism is as follows: Assuming that power is applied to the driving-shaft 1 in any suitable manner and that the gearing is connected up in the proper manner upon the machine upon which the gearing may be employed, it will be seen from Figs. 1 and 2 that the pinion 14 is in mesh with the smallest of the three series of gears upon the gear-wheel 24. This will irnpart motion from the shaft 1 directly to the bevel gear-wheel 24 and through the feather 28 to the shaft 21 at a comparatively high speed. Of course the pinion 7 at this time will be out of mesh with the teeth upon the opposite side of the bevel gear-wheel. Should it be desirable to reduce the relative speed of rotation between the shaft 1 and the shaft 21, the rod 43, controlling lthe yoke 42, is drawn back, causing the rollers 37 37, carried by the sleeve 29, to ride in the cam-slots 44 in the portions 42 of the yokes 43. This will cause the sleeve 29 to slide laterally upon the sleeve 25, carried by the bevel gear-wheel 24, abutting against the stationary collar 26 upon the sleeve 25, causing the bevel gear-wheel 24 to be withdrawn from engagement with the pinion 14. The controlling-rod 17 may now be drawn back, carrying with it the pinion 14, until the same is opposite the gearteeth upon said bevel gear-wheel 24, adapted to produce the speed desired. The rod 43 may now be restored to its initial position, causing the sleeve 29 to bear against the hub of the bevel gear-wheel 24, restoring the mesh between the pinion 14 and the gearteeth upon the bevel gear-wheel 24. Should it be desired to still further decrease the relative speed between the driving-shaft 1 and the shaft 21, the same operation is repeated, the pinion at that time meshing with the gear-teeth near the periphery of the bevel gear-wheel 24, a comparatively low speed of rotation being then imparted to the shaft 21. To increase the speed again, the same cycle of operations isA repeated, the pinion 14 being moved toward the center of the bevel gear-wheel 24, however, instead of toward the periphery thereof, as in the case of reducing the speed. To throw the gearing entirely out of operation, the controlling-rod 43 is simply withdrawn, thereby withdrawing the bevel gear-wheel 24 t'rom engagement with the pinion 14. To produce a reverse motion of the shaft 2l, the bevel gear-wheel 24 is withdrawn from mesh with the pinion 14, and this pinion is displaced from operative position relatively to the gear-teeth upon the bevel gear-wheel 24, and the controlling-rod 10, carrying the yoke 9, connected with the pinion 7, is drawn back, bringing the pinion up into position to engage the gear-teeth upon said bevel gear-wheel 24. The bevel gearwheel 24 is now restored to its original position through the controlling-rod 43 throwing the gear-teeth thereon into mesh with the pinion 7.

While in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings is illustrated a variable gearing providing three IOC speeds forward and one slow speed reverse, it will of course be understood that'I do not so limit myself, as any number of forward or reverse speeds may be provided, involving simply a matter of selection to meet the requirements demanded by different types of machines. However, in ordinary use it will be found that the form of device illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 will meet the requirements ordinarily demanded of a mechanism ofthis character. Y

In employing the form of pinions shown in Figs. 5 and 6 the reverse-pinion 7 is entirely dispensed with, the bevel gear-wheel 24 being withdrawn in the usual manner and the pinion 52 shifted longitudinally along the shaft l, one set of gear-teeth upon this pinion being thrown into mesh with the gearing upon one side of the bevel gear-wheel 24 to transmit motion in the forward direction and the other set of gear-teeth upon said pinion being thrown into mesh with the gear-teeth upon, the opposite side of the bevel gear-wheel 24 to produce motion in theopposite direction.

In employing the controlling-rods 10, 17, and 43 any suitable means may be vemployed to retain the same in their set position, the pinions being preferably held in their proper position to accurately mesh with the gearteeth upon the bevel gear-wheel through their respective controlling-rods.

While I have shown my invention as applied to only several forms, it will of course be understood that- I do not so limit myself, it of course being understood that the same may be applied toany kind of mechanism wherein such a mechanism may be employed. Therefore in adapting such a mechanism to various uses it is obvious that many changes might be made, which changes and modifications could be made without departing from the spirit of my said invention.

Under some conditions it may be found necessary-to provide a comparatively high speed on the reverse and a relatively low speed on the forward rotation of the driven shaft, in which case it is obvious that the mechanism could be made accordingly. It is also obvious that other means may be employed wherebya reverse motion maybe secured. All such changes would fall within the scope of my said invention.

4Having thus described my said invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

l. In a variable-speed gear, the combination ofa driving and a driven shaft, said shafts being provided with gears of different sizes, and said driven gear being provided with an extension, and means for shifting the gears on one of said shafts, consisting of a slotted casing, antifriction-rollers operatively connected with said extension and engaging the slots in said casing, and means for moving said casing over said rollers, substantially as described. Y

2. In a variable-speed gear, the combination of a driving-shaft provided with drivingpinions, means for shifting said pinions upon said shaft, a driven shaft, a gear-wheel provided with rings of gear-teeth, said rings being of different'sizes, and also provided with au extending sleeve, a sleeve surrounding said first-named sleeve, antifriction-rollers mounted on said second sleeve, a slotted casing, and means for moving said casing back and forth on said rollers, substantially as described. l

3. In a variable-speed gear, the combination of a driving-shaft,pinions slidably mounted thereon and provided with gear-teeth, a driven shaft, a gear-wheel provided with rings of gear-teeth secured upon said shaftand also provided with an extending sleeve, a collar secured at one end of said sleeve, a second sleeve surrounding said first-named sleeve, antifrictionrollers secured to said second sleeve,and a slotted casingsurrounding said sleeves, said rollers engaging the slots in said casing, substantially as described.

4. InAa variable-speed gear, the combination of a driving-shaft, driving-pinions slidablymounted thereon, adriven shaft, a gearwheel mounted on said driven shaft and provided with removable concentric. rings of gear-teeth and also provided with an extending sleeve, a collar at one end of said sleeve, a second sleeve surrounding said first-named sleeve, ball-bearings interposed betweensaid second sleeve and said gear-wheel, antifriction-rollers secured to said second sleeve, and a slotted casing surrounding4 said second sleeve, substantially as described.

5. In a variable-speed gear, the combination of a driven shaft, means for driving it,

a gear-wheel mounted upon said shaft, said IOO gear-wheel being provided upon one of its faces with concentric removable rings of gearteeth, means for securing said rings to the face of said gear-wheel, said gear-wheel being also provided with an extending sleeve on one of its faces, a collar secured to one end of said sleeve, a secondv sleeve surrounding said rst-named sleeve, ball-bearings interposed between said second sleeve and said gear-wheel, antifriction-rollers mounted on said second sleeve near one end thereof, a slotted casing surrounding said second sleeve, said rollers engaging the slots in said casing, and -a lever attached to said casing, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I afx my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANCIS MILLER.`

u Witnesses:

E; S. STEPHENS, THos. MCGEACHIE. 

